Support Support Support

 While I was running this morning I was thinking about my friends and family. I was thinking about all the changes that have happend in the recent past, and how thankful I am for those around me. So after my jog with the dog, I came home to check my blog site, and I found an old post that was sitting in DRAFT. I totally forgot about this post, I think I started it like 6 months ago.. Anyway, I thought that it was fitting for my thoughts I had this AM, so now I'm finally publishing it........ Enjoy.

Do you have atleast 1 person to talk to about anything in your life? Do you have that one person that you can 'vent' to about good and bad things that are jumbled up in your heart and mind? A person that will listen with everything they have and not judge you for it? If you don't have someone like that, GET ONE! I know its harder than just going to the store to buy the right size of friend, but they are truly important. There is a reason why God created 2 people in the begining. A man and a woman for obvious reasons, but he also created 2 people for companionship. It is truly a life saver that when used at the right moment can save you from your most dire circumstances. I believe in the power of prayer. I also believe in the power of friendship.
I have been pulled out of some incredible moments by my friends. I am truly a blessed woman to be surrounded by the people I am. And funny as it sounds, each one of my friends and family serve a purpose. Some I know I can go to for just a good laugh, others I know I can lean on in times of unjudgemental struggle. And others well, they just comfort me.
All of them are important to me, but when it comes to things like Loosing weight and a fork in lifes road. Honesty and a swift kick in the rear is the kind of friend we all need. I have a wonderful girlfriend who, even though she is telling me like it is, says it in such a posotive way that I don't even realize shes just slapped me in the face. Sometimes its hard to hear what we need to hear like " that shirt may be a little to tight." or " I think you have been hanging out with the wrong kind of people." or even " are you sure the choices your making are really bringing you closer to God and your family?" Some of those hurt a little. but think of it as a good hard work out. dont you always feel better and rejuvinated after a butt kicking workout? we may not want to do it, and it may kill us in the process but you always are thankful that you endured it in the end.

Back in the Saddle

To be honest, the reason I haven't posted on here for a while is I felt like a broken record. ' I will REALLY do it this time.' or ' I know that NOW I need to really change my eating.' And like all the records before this one, I would really do it for a while. I would do what I said I would, and yes I would feel better, but then I would just stop. Either because I was doing so well I thought I could "treat myself", or I just simply stoped.
I am not posting today to say that Im going to do it this time around becuase I'm sure I will stop at some point. The thing is, I have 2 really big things that I would love to do. Things that will require me to get serious about endurance and strength training. Things that I know I'll regret NOT doing. The first one is a 5K called The Warrior Dash. A few years ago, a friend of mine sent me an email as a joke with information about this outrageous 5K obstical course. Though, she really sent it to me as a " yeah right, this would kill us but look at all the crazies that do it", I was so pumped about it. I wrote her back and said " LET"S DO IT!". that was 2 years ago. This year, I'm in a postion where I really could do it. My kids are older now, so I can sneak away and run for a bit, and get in the gym. I have been doing that atleast twice a week already but now I'm thinking I better pick up the pace. So for my birthday I asked my husband to pay mine AND HIS registration fee and he has to do it with me. It's pretty pricey for a 5K, but the memories will be worth it, and I figure a military style obstical course would make it more inticing for the guys. So we have a pretty big group going..
The second thing is the MS150. Its a 150 mile bike tour in Missouri. I know the MS150 is nation wide and well known among avid bikers, however I just learned about it a few months ago. 2 years ago, my wonderful Mom brought me her old bike from Colorado. She paid for a tune up for me to get it ready to ride. Sadly, the bike, new tune up and all, sat in my garage for a year. This year I have been getting it out more and realized I really enjoy riding. A friend later told me about the tour and I was instantly eager to sign up. I did some research online to see what I would need to do to prepare for such a long tour. To be honest, what I found discouraged me a little. 'You need to average 50-60 miles a week' one biker wrote. 'atleast 4-6 hours on your bike a day.' another one suggested. Now, I can manage an hour run, or even 2 hours at the gym, but 6 hours riding my bike is a little far fetched for a wife and mother of 2 kiddos. But I had to keep in mind, these are AVID bikers. A marathon runner will tell me I need to run 10 miles for a daily JOG. Im in a diffrent leaque than they are, and although they are more experienced than I am, I can't be discouraged because of that.
The bike tour does offer a shorter, easier route, but for now Im aiming to do the full 150. I even have a few friends who would join my team if I created one. So alas, for my birthday from the rest of my family and friends I have asked that they donate money to help me raise enough to enter in the MS150.
I could ask for many things that I want, but this is something that not only I,but others will benifit from too. It is also encouraging me to get out and burn those calories. I am motivated to, not kill myself, but challenge myself to get stronger for the 5K, and build endurance for the bike tour.
I would encourage anyone who gets bored just going to the gym day after day with no real goal, to look around your area and find those races and bike tours. You will find that there are a lot of people around you looking for the same kind of atmosphere. Your energy is diffrent when you surround yourself with people with similar goals. People to push you, people to encourage you, people to drag you out of your box.
So heres to getting out of my box and getting ready for september. If you live close to the Kansas City area, check out the Warrior Dash. Its September 29th in old Monroe, MO. and if you are close to the Jeff City area and would like to join my team, check out the MS150 to Columbia,MO. September 8-9. I'll post details on my team later. Join me in trying something you have never done before. Get out there and burn some calories, sweat A LOT, and feel amazing! Happy Dropin!

Clutter and Panelling

What is something that adds stress to my everyday life? CLUTTER. what makes that stress particularly hard to handle? PANELING! I have been in a battle with both of those things for 2 years. But 3 weeks ago I began raging the ultimate war to finally rule over them once and for all. My motivation was a visit from my Mom. We have lived in this wonderfully old home for 2 years, and yes, have had guests up there before (including my Mom). But this time, I decided that it was time to make improvements and revamp the finished attic in hopes that it would motivate me to keep it clean.

I'll share a secret with you. I am a terrible housekeeper. I clean homes for a living, and I am very good at what I do.what I am not good at is putting things away. I am also borderline hoarder.. not really, but I do have tendencies that I could see get away from me. I see use in everything. I keep all jars, boxes, ect. I believe that I could do something crafty with them or use them eventually. Our basement and attic storage is full of boxes filled with things. I also keep sentimental items. I believe I have every card ever given to me since I can remember, I still add to that collection, and I have kept all cards my husband and kiddos receive as well. I just like to look back at them, read them, remember when I got them, and yes I plan to do something crafty with them.

Anyway, my Mom is coming to visit ( she actually flies in tomorrow). My kids were going to be gone for a whole week camping with the In-Laws, I had a slow week with cleaning so I saw my opportunity and I grabbed that paint by the brush. It took me the entire week my kids were gone to paint. Paneling is hard and time consuming stuff. I'd rather just rip it out, but time and money didn't allow for that. You will see in the pictures to follow I had my work cut out for me. The playroom was a disaster to say the least. Toys everywhere! and not just big toys, little toys with lots of little parts, doll clothes, hot wheels, movies, blankets and yes I did find some dishes and food up there. My craft room was no better. fabric and scrap booking stuff covered my desk. Gift wrapping and books covered my floor and I was even using it as my closet! ( 1950's homes were built with TINY closets). The office area still had Christmas boxes out waiting to be put away and I had tons of papers to file. so you see, I really needed a week in solitary with no kiddos to distract or undo anything.

Long story short it took me 3 weeks to finish my attic. Toys sorted and organized, crafts too. Papers filed and Christmas stuff packed away until next winter. I finished it 2 days ago, and I did everything by myself. I am very proud of what I did. It was a daunting and very time consuming task that required a lot of late nights and sore back. But I think about what I did, and it really does motivate me to keep it clean. I enjoy going up there now, and I know that it is a usable space. before I go any further, here are the before and after pics.... enjoy.

Office area B and A

Hall way B and A

Playroom B and A

Craft Room B and A

I hope you can see the difference! I try to relate everything to health. So here is my health reference for the post. This time the poundage I dropped was Clutter and Paneling. but the moral is.. If I can motivate myself to do something so daunting and lets face it, UN-fun, then I should have no problem motivating myself to make better choices for my health. The liberation I felt after hanging that last picture on the wall was so great that I kept going upstairs just to walk around and admire the work I had done. So if I think of my body as my attic, I need to put in all the time and effort to revamp it and turn it into the space I need and want, and then I will be satisfied with the work I put into it and put forth the effort to take care of it. make sense? If not, that's OK. It's late and I am super excited to pick my Mom up from the airport tomorrow. I hope you find motivation to get that task done that has been on your "To Do" list. You will feel like you dropped a million pounds when you accomplish it! I leave you with a picture of my helper for the first day. Good luck and Happy Dropin'!

Ramblings and Revelations.

No weight talk today. The poundage I am dropin today is my own wound up thoughts. Lucky you. On top of the constant weight goals I have many other achievements and goals that I set and want to succeed at but never feel quite up to par to achieve them.

My wonderful Mom called me today and told me that she thinks I should become a writer. She told me that she enjoys the way I put words together. This is a reoccurring thought in my brain. Before leaving college I was an English major. I have always LOVED writing reports. When I say Love, I mean I would be that nerd in the back of your high school English class to jump up and down and run to the library after school to start doing research. Words come pretty easily to me at the computer. My brain moves fast, and my hand is way to slow to write. Sometimes I feel like my fingers know what I am about to say before my brain does. However, the dream of becoming a writer of any sort seems far fetched to me. I don't know what I would write. I'm defiantly NOT a Mercer Mayor, Dr. Seuss or Stephanie Meyer. So I know that I am not a novelist. I don't have a creative story mind. What I enjoy is research, or just what I am doing now.... blogging. but who would hire me? No BA, no experience, no credentials. No writer.

Another example. I was pretty good at playing the Flute. I started in 5h grade and played all the way through my senior year. I would battle it out for first chair many times. I never strayed from the first 2 chairs. got many solos, and even was in a regional honor band. I even got a music scholarship offer from Colorado Christian College. But alas, I didn't pursue music. Now I would give anything to play in a orchestra or something even on a smaller level. I am very rusty and feel I am too old to pursue that anymore. No time. No Musician.

Another. I was a good cheerleader in high school. Captain my senior year. I remember telling my Mom when I was about 8 that I wanted to be a Broncos Cheerleader when I grew up. I had great school spirit, I had no problem being in front of crowds and I was a pretty good dancer. I again didn't pursue that in college. Wanted to just "check everything out" first. Obviously I'm not 21 and a size 4, so No Cheer leading.

I love crafts. I love scarpbooking, sewing and just creating fun and unique things. I sometimes will create an original idea, but I mostly just use and revamp someone Else's. Someone has to think of it first right? I've tried to sell some purses but I do not feel right selling my work as it is not professional enough. I am more of a gift giver sewer. I have had many people tell me I should enter craft fairs and such. I just don't feel worthy or good enough yet to be selling anything I create. No confidence. No perfection. No craft merchant.

I sometimes feel like I am a being of almost, if that makes sense. Like I am good and a bunch of little things but not great and 1 thing to really focus on. Just like with my weight. I am good and getting exercise in, but I can never seem to get all the puzzle pieces together to really make it work. I had to sleep on this blog last night. I just felt like my words were going in a dark and pitiful direction, until I woke up. I do feel this way. Like why can't I just excel and ONE thing and make a living out of that, but then I wouldn't be me. I realized last night that I was focusing on the wrong part of myself. Yeah sure, I have many small talents, and maybe I will never do much with them, but I have a calling that is much more important.

I am a woman of faith.I live my life for Christ and I try to set an example to the world of what a Godly woman should be. I am very active in my church and I try to be an encouragement to others and a servant to them as well. I pray constantly, and although it is never easy to do, I do my best to lay all my hardships, sorrows and anxieties at His feet and trust in his will.I am a wife. I am married to a wonderful man. I try to treat him as the king of our family and make sure that his needs are met. I am a submissive wife, as the Lord calls me to be and I love and cherish him deeply. I am a Mother. I have 2 amazing children. I am their leader, care provider, protector, teacher and friend. I know that no matter what I will always be their mother. That is a talent that I can never and will never loose. They are my world and I would do anything for them. I know that they watch my every move and I must every day be mindful of the example I set for them. To them I am strong. To them I am the most talented person in the world. To them I am their everything.

With credentials like these I don't need the writing, the music, the cheer leading or the crafting. I just need to live up to the example that Christ has set for me and the level that my husband and children expect me to be. It's hard to not turn my focus in on ME. the world has programed us to think that way. I should have this. I deserve this. I. I. I. But if we think of the other lives we are affecting, we, well I realized that my "I" thoughts are destructive and selfish. Why do I need this great career when the things that matter to me the most are 10 feet from me? I can not hold music for comfort. A book does not talk back. I NEED my God and my family. That is all that matters.

I had a small revelation while writing this blog. Apologies if I rambled. I hope you too realize that although things may not be perfect or the way you planned, that you have exactly what the Lord wanted to provide for you at this moment, and that is exactly enough. No God. No Family. NO THANKS!

Tredmill

Hello fellow poundage losers. I hope your journey has been much more productive than mine. I have somewhat of a revalation of mine to share today. It's kind of a tough pill to swallow. I was cleaning a new home last week and every appliance in their kitchen was touch screen. While trying to wipe out the microwave, I noticed that the stove top/oven would randomly turn on.. After a few times, it hit me that the reason was my "over hang" as I like to call it, of my belly would skim the surface of the oven and turn it on. That in turn lead me to have to suck my "over hang" in and try to hold my mid-section away from the stove. I found this funny. Im not really sure if I REALLY thought it was funny, or if I was laughing at it becuase, although comical, it is a little depressing and I was trying to lighten the "UUUUGGGGGGG"-ness of it.

I told a friend this story, and she said, " Why do you think that is? I mean you work out ALL the time." And I do. I am at the gym 3-4 times a week, then all the calorie burning my job gives me. there is no reason why I should have over-hang getting in my way. Ive said it before and Ill say it until I can get it through my own head.. EATING. I just can't seem to decide to make the changes I need to gain some ground. I know that if I just change the eating, added to what I am already doing physically then I would get to where I want to be...... But I don't know why I'm not....

So as long as I keep this up, I will forever be on a treadmill. Not getting anywhere. I guess I'm just waiting for my AH HA moment and my size 8 pants to magically fit....

Tredmill.

Ground Zero

This is officially the 5Th draft of this post. Why? because I wasn't quite clear about what I wanted to express. I have been struggling with many different emotions about My current weight state. I have thought about many things and have come to some real evaluations and decisions about my path I am on.

I created this blog for accountability for myself and also, I hoped that reading my struggles and growth, would help someone out there like me going through the same things to overcome them, and realize that this is what REAL weight-loss is, not celebrity quick fix. As for the accountability, FAIL! I am sad to announce that after weighing myself this morning, I am THE HEAVIEST I have EVER been (without pregnancy). 160 smack-a-roos.!!! I can feel it, and my clothes can too! nothing fits except my work out clothes and even those are getting a little snug. How did this happen right? I take at least 2 hard core classes at the gym, and get at least 2 more days of cardio in a week. I have an active job too.. so how? I know how, I've always known it, I just never wanted to do anything about it. EATING! I LOVE everything bad for me. and somehow I thought that if I killed it in the gym and ate those things in moderation (by my standard) that I would be OK and break even...not so obviously.

I was watching The Revolution on TV the other day, and the trainer stated it very clearly for me. If you don't WANT to loose weight, you WON'T! Simple as that. I tell myself that I want to loose weight and tone up, but obviously I really don't or I would have by now. I mean, I'm not extremely over weight. My weight isn't unhealthy or life threatening, so why would I really want to loose it? This is something I'm still thinking about.. I am still not sure if I have decided I really WANT to, but because my clothes aren't fitting I know I need to or I will go bankrupt buying size 12's instead of fitting into my size 10's.

I have thought about deleting this blog as well.. I haven't really committed to it, like I thought I would. Pattern? maybe. but after working out with a girlfriend tonight, and talking about it, I have come to another conclusion. I try to write this blog to entice people to read it. I have no clue if anyone is reading this or not. I will wait for some unique cool thought to happen in my head then try to be a real interesting writer. I have to remember why I created this thing... ACCOUNTABILITY!! So I'm going to try to reverse the hypocrisy I have created with myself and really use this as an online journal. hopefully I will log my days food and activity every night. I'm told this way you can really see what you are eating and doing and its more likely you will stick to it..

This isn't going to be an easy journey. I have many things working against me. A husband who has to eat everything, kids who need more than raw veggies and tofu and a very busy job that doesn't really allow me to eat every 3-4 hours. I'm going to have to figure some things out. Wish me luck, and good luck to you.. Here's to Dropin' Poundage... For REAL!

Minor Set Back

So Today was supposed to be day 3 of my sibling challenge. The sad news is I like most of you have contracted the dreaded cold. I have been dead to the world for the past 2 days. Today is the first night I have felt human and able to get some sort of exercise in. I had to settle with my co-ed volleyball game and had to pass on the hardcore stuff. Hopefully I will be able to resume the challenge tomorrow. So this hurts the results a little bit.

I have only done the exercises once. Let me tell you they are MUCH harder than they look on paper. My brother said that my lungs and muscles will burn long after I'm done. Didn't believe him but I should have because I was huffin and puffin for a good 20 minuets afterwards. I truly believe that when I can do them every night for 2 weeks I will see some great results.

Don't give up on me, my pretend people I think are reading.. Happy Dropin'!

2 Week Sibling Challenge

My big brother called me yesterday with a challenge. He got a few tips from some guys at his gym to slim the fat off his midsection. First of all, can I say that this big brother has never had a weight issue like my other brother and myself. He has always been in GREAT shape and has had the ability to tone up and lose weight with no problem. I envy him really. Although I think he's pretty spectacular I suppose we are our worst critics right?

Anyway, he calls me up saying that the tips the dudes gave him at the gym were amazing and that I should try it. He tells me that if I do these activities the right way EVERYDAY for 2 weeks, that my spare tire will get noticeably smaller. So here is My Weeks Focus: The 2 week Sibling Challenge.

Now this particular set of work outs has an official name. I will share this name and exercises with you after my 2 weeks are up. My brother also asked if I would post before and after pics.. gulp. So here I am before the challenge. I will even put my measurement on here just in case I'm not self-conscious enough. However, I feel the only way I will change anything about myself is I have to be real and honest. And I can't get anymore honest that publicly posting my pic and size to the world. I did it in my first post too. lets just hope something is a little smaller....




Weight:151
Waist:31
Hips:36
Thighs:24
Arms:12
Spare Tire(I measured the biggest part, right around my love handles and belly button) 34

Next can I just say that I went back to my very first post to check my measurements and I am happy to say, although I have fluctuated between 8 pounds and from that day to this I have only lost 2 pounds my waist, hips and arms have all gotten smaller. Sometimes weight doesn't really matter :) I am really excited. PLEASE measure yourself. Record it so you can use it as a reference! Just when you feel like you haven't gained any ground or are backtracking, check up on it and reference it. You may be pleasantly surprised like I am this morning, and this has only motivated me to keep going!!!

So there you have it folks. my 2 weeks starts today. I will try to post my progress and any tips or advice that I learn along the way. Here's to making the spare tire deflate! Happy Dropin'

Turn your C into a T

How are you sitting right now? Think about it... are your shoulders rounded to the front? Is you belly hanging over the top of your pants? Are you slouching on your desk just zoning into the computer screen? Does your back make more of a C shape rather than a T shape? This week a thought has slowly crept into my mind and has really called forth my attention, and so thus I feel the need to address it. POSTURE! Such a simple word really. When most of us hear the word we may think of long ago girls balancing books on their head, or prim and proper gals eating lunch with fine silver. The truth is POSTURE is way more important than a social status or training tool, it is VITAL to our overall body performance in daily activities.

Activity:
Keep sitting slouched over ( I know you were because we all do!) now I want you to take a deep breath in through your nose and sit up as straight as you can. Pretend someone is pulling a string from the top of your head. Raise your shoulders to your ears and try to imagine picking up your shoulder blades and placing them directly over your hips and down your back. Notice how your chest rises and your tummy sinks in a little? POSTURE. INSTANT TUMMY SLIM!!! who doesn't want that?

I took a yoga class this morning and really the whole time the teacher kept drilling into our heads, "keep your shoulders relaxed, back straight and shoulder blades down". In my new found love of spinning, the teacher again " shoulders relaxed, back straight and shoulder blades down". same in all my gym classes really. If you really think about it, when you are working out and you sit straighter it makes that exercise a little harder doesn't it? So why if in the gym it is so important, why not in our day to day lives? IT IS! I clean homes for a living and I am usually on the floor, hands and knees scrubbing. I find myself out of breath easily and by the end of the day my back is screaming at me. Lately I have really been trying to focus on my posture and wouldn't you know it I was breathing better and started to have sore upper back and tummy muscles! A work out just making sure my posture was correct!

On top of the workout aspect, correct posture is an instant slimmer.
Activity:
Stand in front of your mirror and completely relax. if you have been practicing slouching (guilty), then you'll notice your shoulders roll forward and your back fold a little, and whelp, there's that belly......ugh. Now try the posture activity in the beginning of this monstrous post. Ah Ha, notice how the tummy flattens a little and you looks slimmer, taller, and lets face it ladies the girls look happier!

Something so simple can be a work out all its own and no one will even know your doing it! If your posture is up your chin and your confidence will be up to. Try it for a day, you will notice a difference. I will leave you with a few exercises I learned on The Revolution show today. Ways to improve upper body posture and tone up. tell me what you think and how posture affects your life. Thanks for reading and Happy Dropin'!

Exercise #1:
Stand with your feet hip distance appart. Bend at the waist so your back is flat, tummy pulled in tight. open your arms, really squeezing the shoulder blades together. Hold for 5 seconds and release. do 10-15 reps. make it harder by adding weights. This will work your upper back to help hold your shoulders back.

Exercise #2:
Lay flat on the floor with knees bent, feet flat on the floor. With some weight (howver much you can take), raise you arms directly above your head. Bending at the elbow, lower your hands to the ground and raise your hands back to the ceiling. this will work your triceps and upper back. do 10-15 reps.

Exercise #3:
Lay face down on the floor with arms stretched out infront of you. raise your arms, head and legs, leaving only your tummy touching the floor. Hold this postition for 10 seconds and slowly lower back to the ground. Do 10-15 reps. This will work your arms, upper back and lower back.

This weeks focus

Last week I mentioned taking a healthier life in baby steps. Last week I tried to focus on Time Management. I just wanted to make sure that whatever else happened, I made it to the gym. I am happy to report that I went 4 out of 7 days! 2 of the other days I still got a work out but it was playing co-ed volleyball and a ladies event at my church.

This week I would like to focus on water intake. Sometimes I am great at drinking water, and others its like I am lucky to get in 2 cups of anything into my system. Water is essential to any ones daily life. Its the purest form of hydration that God has granted us with, and unless you are trying to be stupid and drink 25 gallons in 1 hour, you can have as much of it as you want!

At my Church's ladies night, my very good friend led the devo and she gave a really helpful idea. Carry water with you everywhere! Take it with you when you are running your errands, or going to work. If you are sipping on water then you will be less likely to stop and get a coffee or soda. Or even go through the drive through for Sonic Mozzarella sticks.. ( my weakness). We have heard it time and time again that a lot of times your body mistakes hunger for thirst. So if you think your getting a snack wave, drink a glass of water and wait 15 minuets. If you are still hungry afterward have a light snack. If its sweets you crave grab those Crystal Light packets. They are 0 calories and will satisfy your sweet tooth!

Another quick idea. My Dad told me this years ago and I just recently tried it. Buy plain non fat yogurt, take the serving amount and add just a sprinkle or two of Crystal Light. (to taste). Very low calorie, and will be a sweet healthy snack. Plus plain yogurt is way cheaper than that flavored stuff! Cut up your own fruit to throw in there too!

WATER! drink it! My focus this week to add to time management is WATER! I challenge you to join me in taking small steps. Whats your focus going to be this week? Happy Dropin'!

Short and Sweet.

Last week I tried a few new classes at my local gym. I had tried a spin class before, YEARS ago and though I'd never go back. Only because I was more bruised than sore and needed to carry a doughnut with me everywhere :) But after a while, and with a little Biggest Loser help, my curiosity grew until I finally hopped on that bike last Tuesday. Walking was near impossible Thursday but that was due to extremely sore muscles, not bruising. I really liked the class but thought I should go one more time to see if it was really for me. So I got up Saturday and went to the 8am class. I say all that to say, I'm Hooked! I love it. I love the muscle groups it works and it really is an all over body workout! Plus this class the only light is a black light at the front of the room, and you take it at your own speed. No one is paying attention to you and you can zone out in your own world and push yourself.

A few years ago, my Mom brought me her old bike and got a nice tune up for me for my birthday. I know there are great trails around here to ride, but I just never do it. I felt silly I guess. But this spin class has really motivated me to make an effort to get out this spring. I realized I have friends that like to ride, and there are just as many bike races as 5K's.

The point of this blog is to say, try something new. Step out of the box. You may find what you have been looking for this whole time, and something that will really speak to you and something that you really enjoy. Shake it up! We can get bored running only on the treadmill and doing our weight sets. We are creatures of habit. but mix it up, try a new class, or search for groups in your area. It may be just the thing you need to get you back on the right path, and really enjoy it this time! Happy Dropin'!

Painful Encouragement

OK, after thinking about it for a few days, I would like to briefly touch on my last blog. I feel I may have implied something that I didn't mean. I meant, Don't use books or other peoples ideas or opinions to tell you how fast you should be doing something, or what it will take to make you or your family happy. Books are useful tools of information. Use them at your discretion, but the minuet you start doubting yourself because of it, I recommend you stop and look at the bigger picture.. Okay? I feel better :)

Now, This week has been AMAZING so far. First of all, I applied to CBS to participate in a little reality show you may have heard of.. SURVIVOR! I highly doubt that I will even get a call back, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed because that would be awesome! And GREAT motivation to get in shape. Not so I can wear next to nothing like most of the girls on that show. But so I can survive without dying, and actually hold my own in the challenges :)

Second, I have gone to the gym 3 times this week, all new experiences. Monday I tried a PliYo class. (Pilate's meets Yoga). I have never tried either so I was excited. Truthfully I left the class with my muscles burning, but utterly relaxed! I LOVED it. It was such a suttle way to burn calories and tone muscle, I can see why both of those are fads right now. I have put the 6:30 class in my calendar for the rest of the year, for sure! Tuesday I tried a spinning class. I have only done this one other time, and it was about 4 years ago. If any of you have ever taken a spinning class without riding bikes on a normal basis, you will know what I mean when I say that it was hard to sit for a few days without wincing ( and not because of sore muscles).The only thing that got me through this class what closing my eyes and picturing myself on the set of survivor! HA. Again, I have put the 5:30 Tuesday class on my schedule for the next year. Wednesday I was entirely sore. Legs burned all morning, but wait I went to my FAVORITE step class at 9:30. by the end of class I could hardly walk. My legs were a shaky mess for the rest of the day. Today is no better. I woke up every time I had to even move last night to really focus to get my body to budge. Needless to say with a cup of coffee and a few Bayer's, I was somewhat normal and almost ready to work. I still can't stand or sit without holding my breath.

The point of this is, I'm moving in the right direction! I have decided that I will just take one day at a time, not stress about doing everything all at once. This week was about Time Management, meaning get my flabby rear into that gym! Who knows what my goal will be next week. That isn't coming for 4 more days. I am focusing on this week and so far I am pretty proud of myself. Even if my body is a painful mush, it just means that I am holding to my weekly goal!

I know that you need to eat right and exercise to see results. But for me, I'm going to try just getting the ball rolling on one, and see if the other will follow. I have already made better decisions with my eating without really stressing about it. not saying its going to work right off the bat, but I have given up or failed at most all my other attempts, at least I won't be out of anything trying this. What are your tricks of the trade? Any advice or tips you can share with the average mom trying to drop a few pounds? Good luck to all of you out there trying to live a healthier life, whether its in the weight, mind or soul. There is a finish like out there, it just takes one step in front of the other to get there. Hows your race going to Dropin' that Poundage?

On a final note, Some friends of ours and us went in on a little farm venture and bought some Nigerian Dwarf Goats. We bought 2 girls and 1 boy. Pilgrim, Princess, and Zeus.. As of yesterday we have expanded our beloved herd to 5! Pilgrim gave birth to 2 healthy twin girls (yet to be named) yesterday afternoon. I leave you with a little ray of God's miracle that astounds me everyday! we are a blessed people ya'll!

Oberservations and Revelations...

I took my son to the park yesterday. It was 60 degrees in early January so EVERYONE was there. All the benches were full, so I of course asked to share a bench with 3 other moms. I did not include myself in their conversation, but I did over hear what they were talking about. One mom told the other 2 that she was recommended to a book, something about " The top 100 things every kids should do and have". She then continues to explain some examples to her friends. ' Enjoy nature. Take them out and have them start a collection of sea shells, leafs, etc.' " I have done almost everything in the book with my kids, and they don't seem to care about any of it. I don't understand" she says. Her friends tell her that she should really sound excited and maybe 'pretend' to do it with them, in a way to encourage them. As they continued talking, I just thought to myself. "Why would any parent need a book to tell them the top 100 things their kids needs to be happy. You shouldn't enforce someone elses idea of happiness on your kids just because a book says it will work."

A while later, while pushing my son on the swing ( his FAVORITE past time) a Mom walks over to her 2 boys who are about my sons age, 4 and tells them shes ready to go. the kids beg to stay at the park. " We like playing here" they say. " Well I'm ready to go, why don't we go home and you can ride your new 4-wheelers you got for Christmas?" the boys want to stay. "why don't we go home and you can ride your new electric scooters you got for Christmas?" " We just want to stay here Mom." This had me thinking as well. Kids like it simple. PERIOD. They are so easy to please. It's US who train them to be lazy with video games and T.V. We teach them to be greedy with expensive things. I still remember when my daughter was 3, she had so much loot for Christmas. My mother in law received a large box with her gift inside, and once that box was emptied, my daughter had no interest in opening anymore of her gifts, she just wanted to play inside the box. SIMPLE.

We are creatures created for simplicity. Why then, do we complicate things with other peoples ideas and gadgets to make it "easier"? when really all it does is make us struggle and feel like we are failing? I'm not innocent to this either. I have books on weight-loss, organization, potty-training, being a good mom, so on and so forth. But when I read those books, all it does is make me feel like I am doing something wrong because I'm not doing it in the way the author says is right. Make your own decisions about what works for you. Work at your own pace. Society already tells us what the ideal body image is, how much money you need to make in order to truly live a "happy and fulfilled" life. Put all of that out of your mind. If you try to live up to someone elses standards, and work on their timeline, you are almost set up to fail.

This may sound a bit hypocritical , seeing as this blog was started by me doing a 30 day weight-loss program. However, I defend my case by stating that almost all of my weight is back simply on the fact that I didn't finish. I can't deny that I didn't see results, I did. You most defiantly will see results in almost any aspect, however what do you do when that program or book ends? My friend told me last night that its a mind set. You have to have your mind set on it, otherwise its just another failing trend. (New Years Resolution????) Life changes aren't a trending fad. That's why its a CHANGE.

Set your own pace. Set your own boundaries. Set your mind on what YOU want to accomplish. And get there! I am trying hard to set my mind on 1 change at a time. Right now.... Time Management. Everything else will fall in to place as time goes on.